
Class, 



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OITFXCIAL DONATION. 



56th Congress, [HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. J Document 

M Session. \ ) No. 135. 

PLANS FOR TREATMENT OF THAT PORTION OF THE 
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SOUTH OF PENNSYLVANIA 
AVENUE AND NORTH OF B STREET SW., AND FOR A 
CONNECTION BETWEEN POTOMAC AND ZOOLOGICAL 
PARKS. 



L E T T E E 

FROM 

THE SECRETARY OF WAR, 

TRANSMITTING, 

WITH A liETTER FROM THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, REPORT OF 
EXAMINATION AND ESTIMATES OF COST FOR TREATMENT 
OF THAT PORTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SOUTH OF 
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE AND NORTH OF B STREET SW., AND 
FOR A CONNECTION BETWEEN POTOMAC AND ZOOLOGICAL 
PARKS. 



December 6, 1900. — Referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds 
and ordered to be printed. 



War Department, 

Washington^ December 5, 1900. 
Sir: Pursuant to the provisions of the act of Cong-ress approved 
June 6, 1900 (Public, No. 163), I have the honor to transmit herewith 
copy of a letter from the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, dated 
November 30, ultimo, together with copy of a report from Col. Theo. 
A. Bingham, submitting plans, estimate of cost, etc., for the treatment 
of that section of the District of Columbia situated south of Pennsyl- 
vania avenue and north of B street SW. , and for a suitable connection 
between the Potomac and Zoological parks. 

I beg to call special attention to these plans and urgently recom- 
mend favorable consideration and action. 
Very respectfully, 

Elihu Root, 

Secretary of War. 
The Speaker of the House of Representatives. 



Office of the Chief of Engineers, 

United States Army, 
Washington., November 30^ 1900. 
Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith in duplicate a report 
submitting plans for the treatment of that section of the District of 
Columbia situated south of Pennsylvania avenue and north of B street 



2 TKEATMENT OF PARKS, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 

SW., and for a suitable connection between the Potomac and Zoolog- 
ical parks. 

This examination was made in accordance with the terms of the act 
of Congress appro^ ed June H, 1900 (Public, No. 163), which provides 
as follows: 

The Chief of Engineers of the United States Army is authorized to make an exam- 
ination and to report to Congress on the first Monday in December, nineteen hundred, 
plans for the treatment of that section of the District of Columbia situated south 
of Pennsylvania Avenue and north of B street southwest, and for a suitable connec- 
tion between the Potomac and Zoological parks, and in making such examinations 
and plans he is authorized to employ a landscape architect of conspicuous ability in 
his profession; for services and expenses incident to said examination and report 
the sum of four thousand dollars is hereby appropriated. 

The immediate supervision of this work was assigned to Col. T. A. 
Bingham, United States Army, major, Corps of Engineers, the officer 
in charge of public buildings and grounds in the District of Columbia, 
and after careful inquiry, Mr. Samuel Parsons, jr., of New York, a 
landscape architect of conspicuous ability, was invited to make a study 
of the section of the District of Columbia under consideration and to 
prepare a plan and report, outlining a scheme for a park and boulevard 
connecting the United States Capitol, the Washington Monument, the 
Potomac and Zoological parks. 

Mr. Parsons accepted the invitation and brought to the work that 
genius, energy, abilitj^ and devotion to his profession worthy of a 
landscape architect of conspicuous ability. 

His report is clear and concise, and his suggestions meet with my 
cordial approval. 

When the subject comes up for action before the proper Congres- 
sional committee, 1 trust that Mr. Parsons may have an opportunity 
to personall}^ explain more in detail the broad and comprehensive plan 
he now submits. 

The act of Congress made no provision for an estimate, but an 
approximate statement of the probable cost of a portion of this great 
work is submitted b}^ Colonel Bingham. This, however, does not 
include the value of the area required between Pennsylvania avenue 
and B street north, nor of the area included in Mr. Parsons's plan south 
of B street southwest, with the improvements thereon, nor of the area 
with improvements thereon between Twenty-second and Twenty-fourth 
streets deemed necessar}?^ for a suitable connection between the Potomac 
and Zoological parks. 

In my judgment the plans suggested by Mr. Parsons, if fulh^ carried 
out, will give to the capital of the nation a park sj^stem second to that 
of no city on the globe. 

Commending the plans and report to the favorable consideration of 
Congress, I suggest that early action shall be taken toward initiating 
this great enterprise by securing for the Government the title to the 
land required. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

John M. Wilson, 
£rig. Gen., Chief of Engineers, 

U. 8. Army. 

Hon. Elihu Root, 

Secretary of War. 



teeatmejstt of paeks, district of columbia. 3 

plans for treatment of that portion of the district of 
columbia south of pennsylvania avenue and north of b 
street sw., and for a connection between potomac and 
zoological parks. 

Office of Public Buildings and Grounds, 

Washington^ November 16^ 1900. 
General: In the sundry civil act approved June 6, 1900 — 

The Chief of Engineers of the United States Army is authorized to make an exami- 
nation and to report to Congress on the first Monday in December, nineteen hundred, 
plans for the treatment of that section of the District of Columbia situated south of 
Pennsylvania avenue and north of B street southwest, and for a suitable connection 
between the Potomac and the Zoological Parks, and in making such examinations 
and plans he is authorized to employ a landscape architect of conspicuous ability in 
his profession. 

The duty of carrying out this provision of the law was assigned 
to me by letter from the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, 
dated June 20, 1900, and its execution at once undertaken. The 
advice of competent professional advisers was sought in order to 
ascertain what gentlemen were, without any doubt, regarded by the 
profession as landscape architects of " conspicuous ability." By the 
20th of July, 1900, a preliminary agreement had been reached with 
the tinn of which Mr. Samuel Parsons, jr., of New York City, is the 
senior partner, the firm name being Parsons & Pentecost. Mr. Par- 
sons was at the time in Europe, but the preliminary work of discus- 
sion was completed by the time he returned, early in August, and by 
August 22 the work had been definitely assigned to Mr. Parsons. 
Since that date this work has been vigorousl}^ pressed, and I now have 
the honor to transmit herewith Mr. Parsons's report, dated November 
11:, 1900, together with accompanying map. Several detail drawings 
and perspectives and also a model are still to arrive, which Mr. Par- 
sons has been unable to get completed at this date. 

It is a pleasure to bear testimony to the interest and enthusiasm 
with which Mr. Parsons and his partner have approached the problem 
presented to them, and I think it will be evident that the results of 
their work are worthy of the capital city of this great nation, and 
reflect great credit on both gentlemen. 

The plan forwarded herewith has been prepared under pressure for 
time, when the problems involved are considered. For this reason 
there are some minor points which it is not intended should be carried 
out exactly as the.v appear on the drawings. I refer to cases where it 
would seem as if existing buildings were to be removed for roadways. 
These minor departures from accuracy are due to the fact that the 
draftsmen were not personally familiar with the ground they were 
delineating. 

Mr. Parsons has also insisted from the beginning that he was pre- 
senting a scheme only in general outline, and that while his drawings 
illustrate the main points of his scheme, it was impossible, from lack 
of time, to make it illustrate such final solution as might be found 
necessary in minor details. He refers to this matter in his report. 

The variations of terrain involved in Mr. Parsons's plan are intended 
to be produced by earth filling, but he presents no estimate as to the 
quantity of filling required. To obtain this information would require 
accurate survevs of the whole area involved. 



4 TREATMENT OF PARKS, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

The subject has been gone over in a general way, however, with 
Mr. Parsons and an approximate estimate is hereto appended. 

The value of the triangle bounded by Pennsylvania avenue, Fifteenth 
street north, and B street north, may be estimated at $7,500,000. 
This does not include the other triangular spaces included in Mr. Par- 
sons's plan; and these values must be added to the estimated cost of 
making the park. 

While this is a large amount of money to spend to produce no finan- 
cial return, its expenditure would, without any doubt, make Washington 
city far and awa}^ the most beautiful capital of the civilized world. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 

Theo. a. Bingham, 
Colonel^ United States Army, 

Major , Corps of Engvneers. 

Brig. Gen. John M. Wilson, 

Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. 



APPROXIMATE ESTIMATE OF THE COST OP BUILDING PARK ON THE MALL, WASHINGTON, 
D. C, AS DESIGNED BY PARSONS & PENTECOST, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, NEW YORK CITY. 

Grading: 

From Capitol to fourth transverse road, 2,253,622 cubic yards, at 20 

centsperyard $450,724.40 

Masonry, retaining walls: 

First transverse road, 12,316 cubic yards; second transverse road, 
14,221 cubic yards; third transverse road, 32,146 cubic yards; 
fourth transverse road, 34,366 cubic yards — 93,049 cubic yards, 

at $8 - - - 744, 392. 00 

Koads: 

Drives, 38,340 linear feet, at |4 $153, 360. 00 

Gutters, 38, 340 linear feet, at $3 115. 020. 00 

268, 380. 00 

Paths : 

Surfacing 41,400 linear feet, at $1 per foot 41, 400. 00 

Bridle paths: 

Surfacing 15, 000 linear feet, at $1 . 50 per foot 22, 500. 00 

Lateral system, 38,340 feet of 8-inch pipe, at 30 cents. $11, 502. 00 
Catch-basins : 

10 land basins, at $10 $100. 00 

384 catch-basins for drives, at $10 each. . 3, 840. 00 

414 catch-basins for paths, at $6 2, 484. 00 

150 catch-basins for paths (bridle), at 

$10 each 1, 500. 00 

Total cost of catch-basins 7, 924. 00 

Total cost of drainage 19, 426. 00 

"Water system: 

6,000 feet of 4-inch pipe, at 50 cents per foot $3, 000. 00 

10,300 feet of 2-inch pipe, at 25 cents per foot 2, 575. 00 

12 hose bibs, at $10 each 120.00 

50 hose bibs, at $3 each 150. 00 

5, 845. 00 

Planting, seeding, finishing, hauling good soil, etc., from Capitol to 

fourth transverse road, 352 acres, at $2, 000 704, O^O. 00 

Bridges (masonry): 

First transverse road, 5,110 cubic yards, at $20 per 

yard $102,200.00 

Second transverse road, 6,000 cubic yards, at $20 per 

vard 120, 000. 00 



TEEATMENT OP PAEKS, DISTEICT OF COLUMBIA. 5 

Bridges ( masonry ) — Continued . 

Third transverse road, 6,000 cubic yards, at $20 per 

yard $120,000.00 

Fourth transverse road, 6,000 cubic yards, at $20 per 

yard 120,000.00 

$462,200.00 

Total 2,718,867.40 

Contingencies, 15 per cent 407, 830. 11 

Grand total 3, 126, 697. 51 

Asphalting and curbing (if desired): 
Transverse roads: 

First transverse road, 1,000 x 100, 11,111 square yards, at $2 

per yard 22,222.00 

Curbing, 2,000 feet, at $2 4, 000. 00 

Second transverse road, 320,000 square feet, 35,555 square 

yards, at $2 per yard 71,110.00 

Curbing, 4,000 feet, at $2 8, 000. 00 

Third transverse road, 3,700 x 160, 692,000 square feet, 65,777 

square yards, at $2 131, 554. 00 

Curbing, 7,400 feet, at$2 14,800.00 

Fourth transverse road, 4,000 x 160 + 19,652 square feet, 

659,652 square feet, 73,295 square yards, at $2 146, 590. 00 

Curbing, 10,000 feet, at $2 20, 000. 00 

Total 418, 276. 00 



EEPOET OF ME. SAML. PAESONS, JE., LANDSCAPE AECHITECT. 

New Yoek, Noveiiiber IJf.^ 1900. 

Colonel: 1 have the honor to submit the following report, in accord- 
ance with the terms of the agreement made July 16, 1900, wherein 
under the sundry civil act approved June 6, 1900, "the Chief of 
Engineers of the United States Army is authorized to make an exami- 
nation and report to Congress on the first Monday in December, 1900, 
plans for the treatment of that section of the District of Columbia 
situated south of Pennsylvania avenue and north of B street SW., 
and for a suitable connection between the Potomac and the Zoological 
Parks," and wherein it is also agreed that your landscape architect 
will prepare plans and reports which "will be purely practical sugges- 
tions as to the proper landscape architectural treatment of the ground 
above mentioned, and will not include working plans or details, but 
will describe as approximately as possible the lines upon which the 
work should actually be laid out on the ground." 

In seeking to solve the problem of designing a park in the heart of 
Washington, a park which will be worthy not only of a great city 
but of a great national capital, it is highly important at the very out- 
set to discover and define the natural limitations that grow out of the 
original structural lines of the landscape and out of the demands both 
of the residential and of the business interests of the cit3^ 

I think that these propositions will not be denied by persons who 
have really considered the subject: (1) A park, as a pleasure ground, 
should be set apart and isolated as completely as art can contrive it 
from sound and sight of the surrounding city; and (2) On the same 
line of endeavor the interior of the pleasure ground should be made 



6 TREATMENT OF PAEKS, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

to suggest woodland and meadow sceneiy so laid out as to afford con- 
venient and agreeable access, b\' means of carriage and bridle roads 
and footpaths, to all points of interest and landscape charm. 

Such a treatment would also assume that while every condition nec- 
essary for the comfort and enjoyment of the public should be kept 
clearly in view, the landscape should be made to take coherent and 
artistic shape from the original peculiar genius or idiosyncracy of the 
place. 

Under these terms public buildings could not be generally included 
as part and parcel of the essential scheme of the park, but they would 
properl}^ find special territories of their own on the borders of the 
main pleasure ground, where they could be screened with thickly 
planted trees, and given a landscape treatment suitable to their char- 
acter. 

Before proceeding to the consideration of the controlling lines of the 
design, I feel that it would be proper to explain that, in undertaking 
this work of advice and suggestion, I have endeavored to assume the 
liberal attitude of the citizen of the United States who, in his earnest 
desire to secure for his countr}^ a noble and perfect park, contributes 
his keenest endeavors to secure not only the most charming lawns and 
vistas, but also the best adjustment of steam, electric, and other roads 
for pleasure and traffic conveyance. 

These are days of gigantic national and financial development. I 
do not think it is asking too much of the general public that it shall 
assume a sufficiently disinterested attitude to secure for the national 
capital such an ornament and delight as a great park designed in a 
noble manner. 

In order to explain what I consider an ideal plan, I beg leave to call 
attention to the peculiarly fortunate outline and configuration of the 
proposed park. At present it is intended to cover approximately 350 
acres, which lie in a space bounded by Pennsylvania avenue and B 
street SW. , with the Capitol looming up at the east, and Washington 
Monument at the west. An oblong territory occupied mainly by the 
Botanical Garden, the Mall, the Smithsonian Institute, the Agricul- 
tural grounds, and the territor^^ around the Washington Monument, 
already belongs to the nation, and it is proposed to condemn by law 
and secure a triangle of land running from Pennsylvania avenue on 
the north, B street north, on the south, and Fifteenth street on the 
west. I would suggest that in addition to this land, in order to secure 
the ideal park, another parcel be acquired, bounded by Maryland ave- 
nue on the south, B street on the north, and Fifteenth street on the 
west; a range which would be wonderfully effective as seen from the 
base of the Capitol. There the view would widen over a great per- 
spective that would include in its very heart the celebrated vista over 
almost level ground through grand old trees to the Washington Mon- 
ument, which would be the very kernel and innermost jewel or shrine 
of the landscape. 

No arrangement could be more fortunate than this. Its steadily 
widening reach and its unsurpassed vista would make as it were a 
foreground and park for the Capitol, emphasizing the fact that, owing 
to the special growth of the city to the west, this side has gained para- 
mount importance. 

But the difficulties we shall meet in undertaking to devise such an 
ideal park will not be overcome by securing sufficient land. There 



TREATMENT OF PARKS, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 7 

are existing streets, railroads, buildings, and trees to be considered and 
suitably treated before the task of designing the park will be complete. 

The management of the streets is a difficult problem, if we adhere 
to the vital principle of isolating the park from the city, and recognize 
the fact that the grades of the streets can not be materially changed, 
owing to the proximity of the subjacent water. But the difficulty 
may be overcome, as shown on the plan, by retaining only cross streets 
for traffic, and turning them into transverse roads of ample width, 
screened by embankments of earth surmounted by trees on either side, 
and connected, at the center of the park and in the exact line of the 
vista, by bridges arching 20 feet above the present roadbed. 

In this scheme most of the pleasure movement would cross the park 
by slightly curved but tolerably direct drives located close to the 
transverse roads, and nearly parallel with them, thus carrying out 
more completely the generally elliptical scheme of the park. This 
plan, whenever it can be used conveniently, has special artistic value, 
particularly when, as in this case, a blending veil of shade trees can 
be made to diversify the slightly formal appearance of the oft-repeated 
ovals. 

This arrangement of drives and masked transverse roads, and 
bridges kept in close relations with the vistas, it will be readily seen, 
will naturall}^ force the main scheme of park development into a series 
of ovals, commencing at the Capitol and extending to the White 
House, where the same idea is repeated in the already constructed 
ellipses of the White Lot and the adjacent public territory. It is a 
fortunate circumstance that the positions of the transverse roads cause 
the ovals to steadily diminish in size, dropping progressively to lower 
and lower grades as they approach the Washington Monument. Thus 
in the widening spread of territorj^ they impart to the landscape a 
finished and consistent perspective, a harmonious cadence and rhythm 
of effect, and a finely lengthened appearance of distance. 

Raising the bridges and foliage of the hidden transverse roads will 
likewise tend to give an agreeable undulation to the naturally flat sur- 
face of the park, while the changing contours and blending foliage will 
increase the length of the vista. An adjustment of the roads in this 
way will tend to give a desirable concavity and breadth to the interior 
lawns, which are everywhere kept more or less below the levels of the 
roads, and allowed to wind away from the eye in the long graceful 
curves of the ellipse; in this point resembling the country roads, that 
bend and vanish in charming mystery, for it is proposed to screen all 
these driveways with umbrageous trees. 

Outside of the ovals, the simplicity and effectiveness of the symmetry 
of which constitutes the keynote of the park, we find the drives seeking 
the points of interest and convenience by long curving lines, which are 
so arranged as to mass together as much as possible wide stretches of 
lawn, and in that way increase the large and dignified quality of the 
design. 

Owing to the concentration of the most distinguished park effects 
about the main vista and ovals, and owing to the proper demand that 
walks, bridle paths, and 'drives shall be close to each other so as to 
afford easy human intercourse, and to avoid the great inconvenience 
of losing one's way — a risk that accompanies a more wandering, loosely- 
constructed system — I have placed the roads near the lines of the 
ellipses. I am convinced a greater variety of effective views can be 
secured in this wav than in anv other. 



8 TREATMENT OF PARKS, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

Nor must the need of solitar}^ places be overlooked. For those who 
wish to wander in seclusion, many walks will be found extending" far 
away from the ovals on other and more remote territor3\ 

The treatment of lawns is simple. It is planned to leave hollows, 
meadows, and wide expanses of g-reensward, excepting on either side 
of the pathways and roads; there the shade of trees is encouraged, 
and, fortunately, easily attained. Extended masses of foliage already 
exist, portions of which when displaced b}^ the construction of the 
transverse roads, can be transplanted, after proper root pruning, to 
assist in emphasizing and extending the effects of the main vista to the 
Monument. 

One of the most important features of the plan will be found in the 
new site assigned to the Pennsvlvania Railroad station, now a serious 
obstruction to the development of the new park. Its present location, 
if retained, would utterh^ destroy the harmonius arrangement of the^ 
ovals and sunken transverse roads, which are the distinguishing char- 
acteristics of the present design. The passage of trains through a 
park, whether over, or under, or on the level, is always to be depre- 
cated. It destro3''S the restfulness and isolation of the place, and it 
should be prevented by any arrangement that is not absolutely inimical 
to the comfort and business necessities of the public. A lightning 
express is quite incompatible with a green garden and singing birds. 

The proposed site for the station, it will be seen, is large and com- 
modious, and situated directly in front of the transverse road at Seventh 
street, which is made as wide as Pennsylvania avenue, and only 1,600 
feet from its nearest borders. The station as now situated, in the 
heart of the proposed park, would completely destroy the unity of the 
park design, for it stands at the very point where the loss would be 
the greatest. Under the new arrangement proposed, every advantage 
in the way of electric cars and convenient and commodious foot and 
carriage ways could be secured, as they could all be brought directly 
under the roof of the station. 

I dwell thus strongly on the importance of a new location for the 
railroad station because I believe that if all parties genuinely and 
patriotically interested in securing a really great park were thoroughly 
alive to the real merits of the question, it would be readily conceded 
that the railroad should be banished to parts where it would be invis- 
ible if not wholh^ inaudible from the main drives of the park, and 
especially from the bridges over the transverse roads. Its removal is 
a serious necessity. 

Concerning the parkwa}^ from Washington Monument to the Poto- 
mac and the Zoological parks, it should be said that, as far as the 
beginning of the precipitous portion of the banks of Rock Creek, a 
formal arrangement of footpaths, drives, and bridle roads is secured, 
wherebj^ the house lots are reached by two roads, one on each side of 
the parkway. The space of 800 feet in the middle is occupied by a 
park drive, by footpaths and a bridle road, each of which takes a 
direct course parallel with the adjacent houses, as shown in the accom- 
panying detail plan. 

When the park way reaches the steep hillsides of Rock Creek, it is 
allowed to seek the easiest grades. It occupies a large portion of the 
picturesque slopes with the winding curves of its drives and bridle 
paths, ending at the boundaries of the Zoological Park at the junction 
of Cathedral avenue and Connecticut avenue, where it completes its 



TREATMENT OF PARKS, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 9 

There are some things that can be done with the design of a park 
and some things that can not, if a unified and consistent scheme of 
treatment is to be evolved; and the more thoroughly and intelligently 
these possibilities and limitations are studied, the more certain the 
final successful development of an artistic and enjoyable pleasure 
ground will become. 

In my endeavor to make this report concise, I have necessarily been 
obliged to omit any enlargement on man}^ points of interest and 
importance, my object being chiefly to outline the general principles 
of the scheme, relying on securing at a future time an opportunity to 
explain the full details of the proposed arrangement. 

In conclusion I feel constrained to reaffirm and reemphasize the 
idea to which, in this report, I have continually endeavored to give 
expression, namely, that a park is both a work of art and a living 
phase of nature. The beauties and advantages of each are to be care- 
fully fostered, A fine park is no mechanical or scientific automaton; 
it is an evolution, an ever-growing, ever-changing, organized creation, 
from which no single feature can be taken away with impunity. A 
true park has living functions and peculiarities of construction that 
the most beautiful picture does not possess, and these should be 
molded in accordance with its inherent limitations and potentialities 
for beauty. Let us hope that such a park may yet be one of the chief 
adornments of our National Capital. 

Kespectfully, Sam'l Parsons, Jr., 

Landscape Architect. 

Col. Theodore A. Bingham, U. S. A., 

In. Charge Public Buildings and Grounds. 

H. Doc. 135 2 

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